Woewodin just wants a win: Buckley

Collingwood players donned the jumpers of their junior clubs yesterday to show
their support for the AFL's grassroots football initiative.
Photo: VINCE CALIGIURI

Despite several well-aimed pot shots at his former club, Collingwood recruit Shane Woewodin will not be distracted during Monday's clash with Melbourne, according to Magpie captain Nathan Buckley.

With the Magpies sitting outside the eight, with only two wins from their past seven matches, Buckley said the team and Woewodin had more pressing matters to worry about.

"I think we've got a lot more to focus on than any bloke who is playing against his old side," he said yesterday.

Buckley said Woewodin was anxious about his performance in every game. He said the 2000 Brownlow Medal winner was still keen to impress the coaches and players at his new club.

"He wants to perform and he wants to make a good impression on the club," Buckley said. "He had a very good first round, he's had a bit of a lull and he's played pretty consistently over the last month, so I'm sure that he'd be pretty keen to play well, regardless of who it's against."

Woewodin has not hidden his displeasure since Melbourne dumped him at the end of last year.

A fortnight ago, Woewodin said Melbourne would want to win the game to vindicate its decision to trade him.

"I'll know he (Neale Daniher) will be wanting to win this game and probably justify to his members why they got rid of me. But I look forward to the day and hopefully we'll get out there and spank them," said Woewodin.

Nathan Buckley steps out in the colours of his old club, St Kilda.

Buckley said Woewodin had no more to prove this week than any other.

"He just wants to play well and so do we all. We want to win."

After a lean two months, Buckley said the Magpies were nowhere near their best form but, as they had proven last year, could lift when it counted.

"I think we played our best football only in spurts last year, probably at a period in the middle and then again at the finals.

"But invariably we played our best football when it mattered last year and I suppose there's certain times of the season when you're tested.

"I would have probably said that about the Brisbane game (in round four) and we fell over. The only thing you can do about it is look about how you improve and focus on next week."

Buckley said his team needed greater consistency within a match.

"Our challenge every week is to put four quarters of our type of football together because we know it's good enough to beat every side in the comp."

Buckley said the team, which is ninth on the ladder, was not focusing on the top four.

"We've got a game to win on Monday - I don't think we can think much further than that."